The dark engulfed them as they tracked through the life-zone, the moon sitting at a forty-five-degree angle in the sky behind them. Walking through fields of wheat and barley, through shadowy valleys and steep hills, for hours on end, walking despite the agony that consumed them inside until finally they arrived.

A small cottage stood proud over flat land with small mountains in the distance. Water glistened not far behind the cottage, a miniature lake as it seemed.

Smoke emitted from the chimney of the cottage and a warm yellow light shone through a window on the far left. Outdoor lights lit up the three stairs that led to the mahogany door as well as the dirt pathway that ran from the rusty mailbox to the first step.

Danica and Changbin exchanged glances before copying Jisung as she sprinted up the pathway and to the door, banging on it as soon as he arrived.

The door opened not long after, revealing an alien with her hood down, showcasing her bald head as she stared down at her nephew before pulling him into a warm tight hug.

"Oh Jisung," she uttered against his hair, a tear streaming down her cheek as she pulled away to study his face. "It's been years," she whispered, caressing his face before kissing his forehead then averting her gaze to the duo behind him. She took a second to register their gloomy faces before stepping away from the doorway, granting them access.

***

"So, you two came from a campsite?" She asked, taking a sip from her cup of tea, glancing at the girl and boy.

"Yeah..." Dan replied, placing her empty cup onto the table before her.

"That means you guys have been walking a long way. How did you escape anyway?"

"While everyone was getting injected-"

"Oh no, they've already put it in action? How did you guys leave without getting injected."

"I realised there was something wrong so, we left."

"Interesting," she placed a hand on her chin. "And who did you guess?"

"Ever since my mother's death I wanted to find a cure to Carsania so I studied her journal and everything she said about it. So, when I was waiting in line to get the vaccine and I noticed people itching a lot, I guessed something was wrong." The alien smiled.

"You are a very smart girl, Danica. Really special. I know why you were chosen to be the one bearing the gem." Dan's smiled faded as she furrowed her eyebrows.

"H-how did you know about the gem?"

"Oh Danica, let's just say I have my ways..."

"Aunt," Jisung called, catching both females' attention, Only then was when they noticed Changbin fast asleep, his head resting on the table and Jisung battling with his exhaustion. "It's late," he stated, yawning after. "Can we sleep?"

"Oh yes, of course! I'll go get my spare mattresses, okay?" With that, she left them in the living room alone.

"You okay?" Jisung asked, squeezing her shoulder gently as she gave him a fake smile.

"Wouldn't say 'okay' but I'm coping. Barely, but at least I am." He gave her a sympathetic smile.

"Two more days, Dan," he reminded her. "Two more days and everything will be over."

"Can't wait."

Jisung's aunt entered the living room shortly after with two mattresses.

"Okay, I'll leave these here for you guys to sort out. Goodnight, sleep tight and don't let the bedbugs bite," she hummed, heading to her own bedroom. Jisung instantly stood up, placing down the mattresses, blankets and pillows his aunt had brought before carrying Changbin into bed, making Dan laugh at how he reacted to the older male's weight.

Danny went to the couch, wrapping the thin blanket over her aching body, watching as Jisung turned off the light before doing so too.

She waited a while, staring at the ceiling blankly until she heard Jisung drift off to sleep. Pulling out a torch she had hid behind her back, she searched her bag pulling out a notebook. Just looking at it brought tears to her eyes as she realised just how much she had been through.

Flashback

They had been walking for ages, manoeuvring around trees, trying to find the fastest possible route out of the forest and into the life-zone. But it wasn't as easy as they had hoped.

They were all visibly exhausted but were determined to help Chris at all costs, freaking out as soon as they saw an orange light shine through the trees, lighting up their path. They were too late.

"If we're going to get there before sunset, we need to sprint," Changbin stated, preparing himself but Chris shook his head.

"Maybe it's fate. Maybe I'm not supposed to be healed," the Aussie commented. "I don't want to stress you guys out anymore, so I'll sacrifice myself."

"WHAT?!" they yelled in unison, hoping they heard wrong.

"Look, what other choice do we have? Face it, I'm just distracting Dan from what she has to do. Maybe it's for the best that this happened to me."

"Chris, what ever happened to being a team, huh? We're not leaving you behind," Danny practically yelled.

"I knew you'd say that." Instantly, he pulled the gun out of Dan's pocket and placed it at the side of his head. "I'll kill myself if I have to...and I'm dead serious about this." With a long exhale, the girl approached him, immediately wrapping her arms around him, crying against his shoulder.

"May we be alone for a moment?" Chris asked the other boys to which they nodded understandingly before leaving.

"I'm sorry," Danica sobbed. "I'm so sorry."

"For what?" He asked softly, stroking her hair.

"For not being the girl you want me to be, for not obeying what you say and...and for not noticing how much pain you were in. I'm sorry."

"Honestly, I've changed my mind. I'm happy with who you are, Dan and couldn't wish for anyone else. Let's face it, my life was a lot more dramatic having you being you. Just imagine if you actually were the girl I wanted you to be. And, Dan, I want you to do what you want to do. All these years I've been wanting to protect you but instead I was driving you away from what you love and I'm sorry. From today on, I want you to only do want you love." He crouched down, pulling his bag off of him before searching it, pulling out a notebook. Danica recognised it as soon as she saw it.

"You...kept it?" He nodded.

"And I stuck all of the pages back in. I'm sorry for ripping them out. I want you to find a cure to Carsania, save what is left of the Earth's population and save the Earth. Before I thought you were to weak and all in all in capable but I learnt a lot these past few days. You are much strong than you think, Dan and I'm sorry for degrading you all these years." Tears streamed down her face but Chris wiped them with his thumb, placing a kiss on her forehead.

"May I request one last thing before I let you go?" she stammered.

"Yeah."

"May I see you without the hood?" A sigh escaped his lips but he still did as she requested, revealing the bumps the covered his face. Danica brought her hands up, cupping his face as she caressed his cheeks. Releasing a heavy breath, she leaned forward, touching her lips with his not long later. She pulled away a while later, giggling slightly at the expression on Chris' face, unsure whether it was a smug or embarrassed expression.

"I guess this is goodbye," she tried to smile but she knew it came out lopsided.

"But Dan...what about my final request?" Her eyes widened, not expecting his question but she simply signalled for him to say it. "When I leave, please, forget about me. Forget I ever existed." She nodded before leaving to find the other boys. Jisung headed to Chris as soon as she came back, telling them to carry on without him and that he'll catch up.

They followed his orders, too depressed to argue. They walked for a while before finally they heard it. The sound they never wanted to hear. The sound of a gunshot. Danica froze realising she had just lost her whole family.

She remembered his final request. That he wanted her to forget about him. Releasing a sigh, she stared up at the now-night sky with only one though on loop in her mind: 'how can I ever forget someone who was so much a part of me?'